A Path Through the Woods(A RiaEgg Story)

CHAPTER 8: "Try Not to Worry."

"Which room did you say he was in again, Ria?" Veteran asked.

"216...Question. Did you actually try to eat MrEgg during one of your games a while back? He mentioned that to me at some point before all this happened."

"Uh...maybe. Guess it sounds like something I'd do."

"You don't remember?"

"Nope. Goldfish brain, remember?"

"Oh, yeah, that's right..."

Ria chuckled a bit as she, Veteran and Player all exited the elevator and walked out into the hall, each respectively carrying a thermos of chamomile tea, a deck of UNO cards and a red plaid blanket.

"Man, it's crazy how much MrEgg's improved over the past three days," Player remarked, smiling a bit. "How long do you think it'll be until he'll be able to go home, Ria?"

"Hm...Not really sure, Player. Both of his legs are broken, so he probably won't be able to walk for a while. And even when they're better, they'll probably we weak from the lack of use."

"...Do you think he'll be able to go back to his job before they're fully healed?"

"If he can press down on the piano pedals well enough, then maybe. But his hand would have to heal up to an extent too; kinda hard to be a 5-star restaurant pianist when only one of your hands work, y'know what I mean?"

"Heh heh...Yeah. Guess you have a point."

"Welp, looks like we're here," Veteran announced. "Room 216....Glad it's not the next room over."

"Why's that?" Ria questioned. "Oh...Ohhh, I get it. But that's a hotel, Veteran, not a hospital."

"Eh...close enough. They both got numbered rooms where people stay overnight, right?"

The lime crewmate rolled her eyes a bit, then quietly turned the knob on MrEgg's door and cracked it open to peer inside...He was lying there in bed, staring up at the ceiling and not aware of the group's presence yet.

"...MrEgg?"

"Hm...?"

He slowly turned his head to face her, and a weak smile washed over his face.

"Oh...H-hello, Ria," he rasped hoarsely.

"Hi, MrEgg," she greeted him, silently taking note of the change to his voice. "Think you're up for a couple more visitors?"

"Th...that sounds nice. Who else is here...?"

She headed further into the room and approached MrEgg's bedside, motioning for Player and Veteran to follow her over.

"'Sup, egg head?"

"Hey, MrEgg..."

"Hello, Veteran...Player...H-how's everything faring for you two?"

"It's been okay," the red crewmate told him. "Things will be a lot better once you've made a full recovery, though."

"Well...Thank you, Player. That-*cough*-that means a lot to me."

"You okay, MrEgg?" Veteran asked, raising an eyebrow. "You, uh, sound kinda congested."

"I know...Th-the doctors already know about it. I'm scheduled f-for an X-ray in a little while just to make sure n-nothing is horribly wrong."

"Well...Okay," Ria nodded. "I'm glad they know."

The orange crewmate eyed the things his visitors had with them, and he smiled again.